The person who occupies a leadership role within a department, organization or larger community has the responsibility of Chief Community Builder. 

Effective leaders do not make their communities dependant on them, but instead build a sense of engagement, belonging and ownership in the members.  Building a community means that members see themselves as part of something larger than themselves and important to their wellbeing.  What is the measure of a “good community” vs. a “bad community?”  Good communities are aware of the issues, care for their fellow members and take micro-actions that lead to the macro-wellbeing of the larger group.  Ineffective communities are characterized by a lack of direction, infighting among members and lack of regard for the greater good.

A leader occupies the role of community builder and if he or she does not execute that role it is unlikely that someone else will.  By building an effective community the leader ensures the future of the group and their ability to lead it.  This can be considered the “preventative maintenance” role of leadership because the leader is preempts the many sources of community decline—self-preservation, politics, drama, division, etc.